A walk on some of the Lakeland Northern fells: Dodd, Carlside, Longside Edge & Ullock Pike  

9.5 miles 3200ft

I parked near to the Mirehouse estate and entered Dodd wood to start the climb to Dodd fell 

A well placed bench to take a break on the climb, with a view across the valley....

....and take a photo of the distinctive Causey pike

The memorial stone on Dodd summit 1647ft

Zooming in on Grisedale pike with Hopegill head to the right

Bassenthwaite lake from Dodd

After leaving the summit I descended to take the path leading to Carl Side summit

Looking back to Dodd.....

....before arriving at Carl Side summit 2448ft with the path to Skiddaw summit (but not for me today)

Looking south to Skiddaw 'Little Man'....

....and then my route ahead to Longside Edge and Ullock Pike

The path along Longside Edge with Bassenthwaite lake below

A lone walker on Ullock Pike summit 2267ft

Looking back down to Dodd with the central Lakeland fells behind....

....and straight down to St Bega's church on the side of the lake where I intended taking lunch....

.....continuing the descent 

Looking back to Ullock Pike & Longside Edge

Arriving at St Bega's church....

....and Bassenthwaite

....and again

....and a very late lunch at St Bega's church!

Finally back to the car  near the 17th century    Mirehouse which is still a family home but whose estate and gardens are open to the public.

The route along Longside Edge has always been one of my favourite walks, usually on the way to or from Skiddaw. Combining it today with Dodd & Carl Side made an excellent day's walking which I would highly recommend.

 More from Lancashire!

Boulsworth hill circuit from Laneshaw Bridge via Wycollar,  Atom Panoptican, & Trawden Forest.

11miles 2100ft

I parked at Ball Grove recreation area & picnic site with the very bright sun still low in the sky....

....and again....

....and again

Crossing the Colne Water river to reach....

.... the hamlet of  Wycollar in 'Bronte country'

Crossing the pack horse bridge to reach the ruins of Wycollar Hall, 'Ferndean Manor' of Jane Eyre fame.

'Ferndean Manor' again

"The manor-house of Ferndean was a building of considerable antiquity, moderate size, and no achitectural pretensions, deep buried in a wood"    (Jane Eyre)

Leaving Wycollar I climbed up to....

....the 'Atom' panoptican, one of 5 different panopticans in East Lancashire.....

.....I could see Boulsworth hill on the horizon from the climb

Boulsworth Hill again from inside the Atom!

The Atom with Pendle Hill on the horizon

Leaving the Atom I crossed Deep Clough and into the area known as The Forest of Trawden....

....and climbed to 'Weather Stones' on Boulsworth Hill.... before continuing across the summit to....

.....Lad Law trig point standing at the highest point 

1696ft

There are many of these rocky outcrops on the summit

On the descent I could see Coldwell upper & lower reservoirs

The descent continued down Trawden Brook....

....with plenty of bright spring flowers along the path

Passing the huge Winewall Jam Pan...

....and the Winewall spring

Finally arriving back at Ball Grove recreation area where a lovely cafe awaits!!!

This lovely spell of weather at the moment has afforded a great opportunity to enjoy the some delightful walking in my home county

 A Taste of East Lancashire!

Turton & Wayoh reservoirs with Cheetham Close & Turton Heights

10.5 miles 1250ft

Setting off on a circuit of  Turton reservoir

The path follows the waters edge for the complete circuit....

....including some small side pools

It was a lovely sunny morning right from the start

Crossing the inflow to the reservoir

A rather novel sulpture in the reservoir

I felt I could almost be in Lakeland except there were no high fells!....

.....but there was Turton Heights which I was climbing later in the walk

The Strawbury Duck pub in Entwistle, it is spelt 'bury'!

One of the many rail viaducts on the Bolton to Blackburn line above Wayoh reservoir

The village of Chapeltown

Crossing the dam at Wayoh reservoir

Passing through Turton Bottoms on the Witton Weavers Way path

Looking back into the valley as I climbed towards Turton Heights

A rather hazy Manchester skyline

The trig point Cheetham Close summit 1079ft....

....followed by a view to Winter Hill transmitters from Turton Heights 1125ft

Lunch time stop from the descent back to the reservoirs....

....and again

Finally any suggestions what this is called? I rather liked its contrast with a deep blue background.

I had originally planned to climb some of the  Borrowdale fells, however my car was being repaired after being hit in the side by another vehicle. I had only just collected a temporary replacement vehicle which was a brand new car. I thought I'd better stay closer to home until I got more used to it!

It turned out to be an excellent day's walking